DPH Motorsport’s Lawson Bopping has claimed his first overall win for 2015, on one of the toughest circuits of the series, at round five of the Australian MX Nationals in Coolum on Sunday.

After kick-starting his day with a Go Pro SuperPole win, Bopping went on to put in an outstanding performance, in conditions that tested the most experienced MX Nationals athletes.

Despite a first turn pile up involving CDR Yamaha team-mates Daniel Reardon and Kade Mosig, Bopping dodged the carnage and claimed the first holeshot of the day for Yamaha. Bopping then went on to lead for the entire race, until New Zealand’s former MX2 World Champion Ben Townley took control and secured the race lead at the 25-minute mark.

Proving that retirement is no issue, Penrite Honda’s Townley went on to claim an epic race one win, in his first MX Nationals appearance for 2015. Crossing the line in a close second was Bopping, followed by KTM’s Kirk Gibbs who put in a huge charge to come from 16th all the way back to third.

In race two, it was all about red plate holder Gibbs. After taking the holeshot, Gibbs stretched out an early lead on the field, and by the 30-minute mark, finished moto two over ten seconds before second place getter Bopping, and Townley who crossed the line in third.

Despite Gibbs’ form, a second place, was all that was required in race two for Bopping – handing the Yamaha mounted rider his first round overall for 2015, ahead of Gibbs who took second, and comeback king Townley who finished round five in third overall.

“This is a great feeling taking this overall and it’s just great to be able to give back to Dale and the whole DPH team,” said Sunday’s two-time runner-up Bopping.

“Today was an awesome day – To get the win in SuperPole and holeshot the first moto was really good, and then in the second race I just did what I had to do.

“It was just a really fun day really. The guys are a lot of fun to race against and Townley hasn’t lost anything that’s for sure (laughs), but I’m just pumped – this is a big achievement for me.”

Meanwhile, in the MX2 class, KTM Australia’s Caleb Ward has once again shown that he is back with a vengeance, claiming the round five overall win on home soil in Coolum.

With Coolum being the last outing for the Motul MX2 class before the mid-season break, round five of racing was fast, aggressive and game changing across both challenging motos.

In moto one, new faces graced the front of the class with privateers Wade Hunter and Riley Graham both leading race one for short periods of time. However Ward’s speed was once again a force to be reckoned with.

Adding yet another race win to the collection, Ward crossed the line in first position ahead of Serco Yamaha’s Luke Clout in second, and Kawasaki Australia’s Takeshi Katsuya who continued his trend finishing in third.

In race two, the point was proven that it pays to be local. Husqvarna Racing Team’s Nathan Crawford showcased his talent on the brutal Coolum circuit, sharing the lead with JCR Yamaha’s Jay Wilson throughout the moto before eventually taking the chequered flag in first position.

Fellow local Ward fought until the end in moto two – charging from the back of the pack all the way up to third, Ward then managed to make the pass on Wilson for second on the very last lap, leaving Wilson in third at the conclusion on the race.

Despite Crawford’s race win, the consistency of Ward was just too good -rewarding KTM yet with another round on the MX2 podium ahead of Crawford in second, and Wilson who finished the round in third.

“I had two bad starts today and had to come through the pack but it’s still awesome to get the overall that’s for sure,” said Ward.

“I want to try and win as many races as possible, and this round wasn’t too bad, but obviously I’d like to keep pushing forward and get some more moto wins.

“I’m just going to strengthen my leg up a bit in the break, keep training and then come back for the second half strong, but overall today I’m pretty happy with my result.”

© Photo by Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com

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RESULTS AND STANDINGS:

MX1 round five overall points:

1) Lawson Bopping 64

2) Kirk Gibbs 63

3) Ben Townley 61

4) Kade Mosig 54

5) Luke Styke 54

6) Adam Monea 53

7) Jesse Dobson 51

8) Daniel Reardon 46

9) Cody Cooper 42

10) Dylan Long

MX1 championship points:

1) Kirk Gibbs 341

2) Luke Styke 289

3) Adam Monea 283

4) Lawson Bopping 282

5) Kade Mosig 281

6) Jesse Dobson 240

7) Dylan Long 234

8) Daniel Reardon 230

9) Cody Cooper 219

10) Kale Makeham 180

MX2 round five overall points:

1) Caleb Ward 67

2) Nathan Crawford 69

3) Jay Wilson 54

4) Takeshi Katsuya 54

5) Luke Arbon 49

6) Jed Beaton 48

7) Wade Hunter 48

8) Jack Simpson 46

9) Geran Stapleton 45

10) Luke Clout 43

MX2 championship standings:

1) Luke Clout 286

2) Takeshi Katsuya 281

3) Jay Wilson 281

4) Jed Beaton 250

5) Wade Hunter 246

6) Luke Arbon 228

7) Nathan Crawford 213

8) Geran Stapleton 202

9) Hamish Harwood 194

10) Riley Graham 190